This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.The good news for the Pirates is that they moved into a tie for the third National League wild card spot with a 3-2 walk-off win over the Diamondbacks at PNC Park on Monday night.But the win came with a potential cost as star rookie Esmerlyn Valdez left the game after being hit by a pitch on his left hand.Scoring PlaysTop 6th, 2-0 ARZ: The Diamondbacks (55-52) broke the scoreless tie on Max Keplers two-RBI double off Mitch Keller with one out, knocking the Pirates starter out of the game.Bottom 6th, 2-1 ARZ: Brandon Lowe got the Pirates (55-52) on the board when he plated Jake Mangum from third base on an infield single off Merrill Kelly.Bottom 8th, 2-2: Lowe and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back two-out doubles off Jonathan Loaisiga to tie the game.Bottom 10th 3-2 PIT, Lowe delivered a walk-off single off Taylor Clarke (2-2). Lowe hit a hard liner off the glove of first baseman Ildemaro Vargas.This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.com.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

Hoping to add some excitement to their offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder had their attempts at stealing away talent from a divisional rival fall short. The Denver Nuggets matched their two-year, $12 million offer sheet for Spencer Jones.In a rare attempt at adding a restricted free agent, the Thunder hoped to add Jones to their vacant roster spot. An opening happened on their standard 15-player roster following their trade to send Lu Dort to the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal. With $6.9 million to spend below the second apron, they tried to acquire the 25-year-old.Jones has spent two seasons with the Nuggets. He went undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft. He went from a two-way player to getting converted to a standard deal in Feb. 2026. He's one of Denver's best finds in recent memory. He averaged 5.5 points and 3.3 rebounds this past season. He shot 39.6% from 3 on 2.3 attempts.Starting the weekend on the Thunder, Jones ended it back on the Nuggets. They matched his offer sheet with an hour to spare. Denver had 48 hours to make a decision. Afterward, he took to LinkedIn to express his thoughts on a wild two days."It's official. I'm staying a Denver Nugget," Jones wrote. "Plot twist. Yes, I signed an offer sheet with Oklahoma City and yes, Denver matched it. I know some people are confused, and some fans are even upset. How could I sign with a rival? I get it. But I also need people to understand something. This is a business. Front offices treat it that way every day and players have to do the same."Surely, nobody was too upset at Jones for chasing a bag. As an NBA player, you only get a handful of chances to cash in on your earnings. As a restricted free agent, he had a chance to get the best of both worlds earn a boatload of guaranteed money and help a title contender."I went into free agency with clear priorities: a team that fits my skillset, a championship culture, and an organization I believe in. Both Denver and OKC checked those boxes. Either way, I was landing somewhere that made sense," Jones continued. "The offer sheet was a business decision. It ensured I ended up in the right situation w/ what I felt was the right compensation regardless of what happened next."Alluded to earlier, Jones is one of Denver's best developmental stories. He played in five collegiate seasons at Stanford from 2019-24. By his second year in the NBA, he was a starter in 37 of the 64 regular-season games he played in. He had a 20-point outing in their Round 1 series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.All that was enough to garner serious interest as a restricted free agent. Seldom do you see the Thunder play in that game, but the move made sense from their perspective. Even with the Nuggets matching Jones' offer sheet, they're now the sole team in the NBA to be in the second apron. Which means some difficult roster-cutting decisions will need to be made this summer."And along the way, I made a little history. The largest fully guaranteed offer sheet ever signed by an undrafted player converted from a two-way contract," Jones wrote. "From a two-way with no safety net to this. I don't take that lightly. Now I get to keep building with the team that bet on me from the start."This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Spencer Jones opens up about Nuggets' decision to match OKC's offer sheet

The Seahawks plan to waive running back Kenny McIntosh, Brady Henderson of ESPN reports.McIntosh currently is on the active/physically unable to perform list. He tore the ACL in his left knee during a training camp practice 366 days ago.The Seahawks made McIntosh a seventh-round pick in 2023, and he injured his knee in his first training camp. He played only 13 special teams snaps in three games as a rookie.In 2024, McIntosh appeared in every game, playing 75 offensive snaps and 173 on special teams. He rushed for 172 yards on 31 carries and caught three passes for 22 yards, while returning six kickoffs for 153 yards.The Seahawks drafted Jadarian Price in the first round and signed Emanuel Wilson in free agency. Eventually, Zach Charbonnet will return from his torn ACL.

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NEW YORK (AP) Francisco Lindor homered twice and tripled off the top of the fence, driving in six runs as the New York Mets pulled away for a 14-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday night.Marcus Semien hit a long two-run homer that snapped a 3-all tie in the sixth inning. Tyrone Taylor extended his tear at the plate with a three-run drive in the seventh as the last-place Mets (45-62) matched a season high with 19 hits and hammered a first-place opponent for the second consecutive day.Taylor and Semien each had a three-run homer Sunday, when New York beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3. Lindor, Semien, Taylor, Bo Bichette and rookie A.J. Ewing had three hits apiece as the Mets scored double-digit runs for the 10th time this season.Rookie starter Zac Thornton (2-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked one in his fifth big league start.Lindor hit an RBI triple off the top of the right-field wall and a two-run homer to left in his first two at-bats against Atlanta starter Martn Prez. The star shortstop then gave the Mets their final three runs with a towering drive into the left-field seats off reliever Connor Thomas (0-1) to cap a five-run eighth.It was Lindors 23rd career multihomer game and first since Aug. 15 last year against Seattle. The switch-hitter had six RBIs for the fourth time and first since April 14, 2023. It was the first time he's had two homers and a triple in one game.Ozzie Albies hit a tying homer for the Braves in the fourth and drove in all three of their runs.Atlanta star Ronald Acua Jr. returned to the lineup after missing 37 games with a strained left hamstring and went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.Prez yielded three runs and eight hits in five innings. Thomas was tagged for 11 runs and 10 hits in 2 2/3 innings, and Atlanta used infielder Jorge Mateo on the mound to finish the eighth.Up nextAtlanta LHP Chris Sale (11-6, 2.19 ERA) opposes New York RHP Christian Scott (3-2, 3.13) on Tuesday night.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Munich, Germany - May 16: Bara Sapoko Ndiaye of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate after winning with the Trophy after the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Mnchen and 1. FC Kln at Allianz Arena on May 16, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Kaelke/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty ImagesAfter Leon Goretzkas departure, questions were raised over who would take his spot in the midfield. Following an impressive season on loan at Hannover, many thought Nol Asko Nkili would be the man for the job. However, the 20-year-old midfielder was sold to Eintracht Frankfurt leaving many scratching their heads. It seems as though Bayern had Goretzkas replacement lined up since the start of the year. Bara Sapoko Ndiaye impressed in his cameo appearances towards the end of Bayerns season. So much so that Die Rekordmeister decided to sign the 18-year-old talent from Gambian academy Gambino Stars Africa permanently. Bayern Munich Sporting Director Christoph Freund confirmed the signing on Saturday, reports two days later confirming that Ndiaye signed a five-year contract.Now according to Florian Plettenberg (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), we know how much Bayern paid for Ndiaye.Bara Sapoko Ndiaye to FC Bayern is done for at least 3-4m on a 5-year contract until 2031. The Senegalese midfielder attracted interest from other clubs after the World Cup, but he was determined to join Bayern permanently. Hes set to take Leon Goretzkas squad spotBayern Munich have a history of signing elite midfield talents for a bargain price. In 2014 Xabi Alonso was signed for 9m from Real Madrid, becoming an instant favourite among fans. Just one year later Bayern made one of their greatest bargain signings in the clubs modern history, securing Joshua Kimmich for 8.5m from VfB Stuttgart.Has Bayern struck gold once again with Bara Sapoko Ndiaye? Well have to wait and see, but the 18-year-old certainly looks to be an exciting talent.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

Since the early days when the sport was anything but a mainstream endeavor, the MMA industry has thrived and survived through various websites, forums, and perhaps most importantly social-media platforms.Fighters interact with fans, each other and many more through the likes of X, Facebook and Instagram, which helps outsiders get a deeper look into the minds of the athletes.Following Saturday's UFC Fight Night 282 in Abu Dhabi, several of the winning and losing fighters, along with their coaches, training partners or family members, took to social media to react to the event or share a message with supporters.Check out some of those reactions.The defeated: Cody GibsonView this post on Instagram

WSL: Oona Siren new contract with West Ham outlines club ambition for 2026/27 season and beyondWest Ham United have confirmed thatOona Siren has signed a new two-year contract, with the Finland international committing her future to the Hammers until the summer of 2028.The announcement is another positive step for the club as preparations continue for the 2026/27 Barclays Womens Super League season. While summer transfer windows are often defined by new signings, securing the futures of established players is equally important. West Ham have ensured one of their most dependable performers will remain in east London for years to come.Since arriving from Norwegian side LSK Kvinner in September 2024, Siren has become one of the most influential players in the squad. Calm in possession, intelligent without the ball and relentless in her work rate, the midfielder has developed into a player her teammates can rely on every single week.The new deal also comes at an exciting time for the club following the appointment ofRita Guarinoas head coach. As the experienced Italian prepares for her first campaign in charge, keeping a player of Sirens quality provides an important foundation to build upon.Oona Siren happy to continue her journey with West HamAfter signing her new contract, Siren spoke of her happiness at remaining with West Ham. She made it clear she believes there is still plenty to achieve in claret and blue.The midfielder explained that she feels settled in east London and has enjoyed every aspect of her time at West Ham since arriving almost two years ago. She also praised the people around the club, highlighting the environment that has helped her continue developing both on and off the pitch.Those comments will no doubt be welcomed by supporters. Modern football moves quickly, and players frequently change clubs in search of new opportunities. However, Sirens decision to commit her future suggests she believes West Ham is the right place to continue her development.That confidence appears to be shared by the club. Offering the Finland international a new contract demonstrates just how highly she is regarded. Not only for what she has already achieved, but also for the role she can play in the years ahead.Embed from Getty ImagesA move that has worked perfectly for both sidesWhen West Ham signed Siren from LSK Kvinner in September 2024, the club knew they were bringing in a midfielder with an excellent reputation.She had already enjoyed success in Finland with KuPS before continuing her development in Norway. There, she gained valuable experience in both league and European football.Stepping into the Womens Super League, however, presents a completely different challenge. The pace is faster. The physical battles are tougher. Every opponent has quality throughout the squad.Despite those demands, Siren adapted impressively and has continued to grow season after season. Rather than simply finding her feet in English football, she has become one of the teams most dependable performers.Looking back now, the move has proved to be an excellent piece of recruitment by West Ham.Why Oona Siren is so importantEvery successful team needs balance in midfield.While attacking players often receive the headlines for scoring goals, midfielders are responsible for controlling matches, protecting the defence and linking play between the two penalty areas.That is exactly what Siren brings to this West Ham side. She rarely panics when receiving possession. Instead, she constantly scans the pitch, looks for the best option and keeps the ball moving.Her passing may not always be spectacular, but it is consistently effective. She understands when to slow the game down and when to increase the tempo, giving West Ham far greater control during matches.Without the ball, she is equally valuable. Her positioning allows her to intercept passes before attacks develop, while her willingness to press opponents often forces mistakes high up the pitch.She also covers an enormous amount of ground throughout 90 minutes, helping teammates defensively before immediately supporting attacks when possession is regained.Those qualities are not always reflected in statistics. However, they are exactly the reasons coaches place so much trust in players like Siren.Embed from Getty ImagesConsistency has become her trademarkOne of Sirens biggest strengths is consistency.Every squad has players capable of producing moments of brilliance. Far fewer players are able to perform at a high level every single week. Siren has become one of those dependable footballers.Whether West Ham are facing title challengers or teams lower down the table, supporters know exactly what they will get from the Finland international.Siren competes for every ball. She works tirelessly for her teammates. She makes intelligent decisions under pressure, and she never hides when the game becomes difficult. Those characteristics make her an invaluable player.Rita Guarino inherits a player she can build aroundThe arrival of Rita Guarino represents the beginning of a new era at West Ham.The former Juventus head coach arrives with an outstanding reputation after enjoying significant success in Italy, and one of her first priorities will be building a squad capable of competing consistently in the Womens Super League.Thankfully for Guarino, she already has several high-quality players at her disposal. Siren is undoubtedly among them.Midfielders who combine technical quality with tactical intelligence are incredibly valuable.Siren has shown she can perform in different systems and fulfil a variety of roles depending on what the team requires. Whether playing deeper to protect the defence or slightly further forward to support attacks, she brings calmness and discipline to the middle of the pitch.Those qualities should make her one of the key players under Guarino. Rather than beginning a new project from scratch, the Italian coach inherits a footballer capable of becoming one of the leaders of her squad.Experience beyond her yearsAlthough Siren is still only 24 years old, she already possesses significant experience. She has won league titles in Finland and represented them on the international stage. She has also competed in European football. Each of those experiences has helped shape the player West Ham supporters now see every weekend.International football, in particular, continues to play an important role in her development. Testing herself against different styles of play and some of Europes strongest players ensures she continues learning and improving.Those experiences naturally benefit West Ham whenever she returns from international duty. With many of her best years still ahead of her, there is every reason to believe Siren can continue reaching even higher levels.Embed from Getty ImagesA statement of intent from West HamRetaining important players sends a message it tells supporters the club wants to build rather than restructure.It tells potential new signings there is stability within the squad. It also gives the coaching staff the continuity required to implement their ideas.Oona Sirens new contractachieves all three. Instead of allowing uncertainty to surround one of their most influential players, West Ham have acted early and secured her future.That provides valuable stability heading into an important season under a new head coach.Every successful team is built around a dependable core of players. Siren has unquestionably earned her place within that group.What this means for the season aheadExpectations around West Ham continue to grow. Supporters have seen encouraging progress in recent seasons and will hope the team can continue moving in the right direction under Guarino. Having players like Siren available will be essential.Her ability to control games, protect the defence and provide composure in midfield will become even more important as West Ham look to compete consistently against the leagues strongest sides.The club will also benefit from the understanding she has already developed with her teammates. That familiarity cannot be underestimated.While new signings often require time to settle, Siren already knows what is expected and can help those arriving this summer adapt more quickly.Leadership is not always about wearing the captains armband. Sometimes it comes from setting standards every day in training and delivering reliable performances every weekend. Siren has shown those qualities throughout her time at West Ham.Embed from Getty ImagesLooking to the futureWith her future now secure until 2028, Siren can focus entirely on helping West Ham continue progressing.She has already established herself as one of the teams most reliable midfielders, but there is every reason to believe her best football is still to come.The next chapter promises to be an exciting one, with a new manager and a refreshed squad, along with fresh ambitions.For West Ham supporters, securing theSiren on a new contractis one of the best pieces of business the club could have completed this summer. Keeping one of the squads most consistent performers gives Guarino a strong platform to build from as she begins her first season in charge.For the player, it is recognition of the hard work she has put in since joining the club. For West Ham, it is another statement that they are determined to build a squad capable of competing with the very best in the Womens Super League.And for the supporters, it is confirmation that one of their most admired midfielders will continue wearing claret and blue for the foreseeable future.Related articles from Her Football Hub:West Ham Female Player Pathway celebrates historic season as Katie Zelem and Laia Codina inspire future starsMelvine Malard departs Man United for club-record sale and joins WSL rivals ChelseaFulham preparing for next chapter as historic rise continues following season double

The 2026 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline is just one week away. On Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET, teams will no longer be able to enter into trades with one another for the rest of the season.That means the clock is ticking for contenders to decide what they will do in order to bolster their team, and clubs that have more of a grim outlook for the rest of the season must choose whether or not some contracts need to be dealt to acquire more controllable talent.Atop the list of contenders are the Los Angeles Dodgers, who, at the time of writing, are 67-39 and maintain a half-game advantage over the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in baseball. The Dodgers already have a lot of star power, but their goal might require additional help.Los Angeles has the once-in-a-lifetime chance to three-peat as World Series champions, which would make it the first organization since the 1998-00 New York Yankees to do so. If the Dodgers accomplish it, they would join the Yankees and the Athletics as the only organizations in MLB to accomplish such a feat.So, if the Dodgers are going to use the Deadline to get even better, they are going to have to make a sacrifice, and that might mean losing outfielder Ryan Ward to another team.Why might Ward be gone?Recently,The Athletic'sMLB Staff made predictions for all 30 MLB clubs concerning which players from each organization might find themself in a new uniform following the Deadline. For the Dodgers, Ward was named.The Athletic reasons that because the Dodgers listened to offers on Ward earlier in the season, he will likely be available now. On top of having a lot of stars, the Dodgers also produce a very strong farm system with high-level prospects.Therefore, Los Angeles can afford to move someone like Ward to get another player who is immediately ready to contribute to the 40-man roster. The good news for teams that might be interested in Wards services is that he can contribute at the major-league level, too.Ward, 28, made his MLB debut on April 19 and has appeared in 20 games for the Dodgers. He was one of the young players to step into a big role for Los Angeles, and while his numbers werent jumping off the stat sheet, he proved he can hang around.In his 20 appearances, Ward logged a .218 batting average, a .283 on-base percentage, a .455 slugging percentage and a .738 OPS. Again, not the best numbers, but his OPS is above league average.The Athletic's MLB Staff praises Ward for his consistency in Triple-A, where he has slashed .254/.362/.440 with an .802 OPS in 65 games. Therefore, he can be a solid bargaining chip for the Dodgers.Join the CommunityDon't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!

A squirrel caused quite a bit of chaos at Comerica Park on Monday night.A black squirrel managed to break down onto the field during the Detroit Tigers 8-5 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, and it led the grounds crew on a massive chase in the outfield. Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras even had to get in on the action, but he couldnt quite catch the elusive animal with his glove.But perhaps the best part of the loose squirrel was Jason Benettis call of the scene from the booth. Check it out:It took the entire Tigers grounds crew and Orioles outfielder Leody Taveras to remove this squirrel from the fieldHome plate umpire Bill Miller even asked the crowd for a round of applause for the grounds crew pic.twitter.com/v1230aOIvj Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 28, 2026No, I wont be hemmed in! I have freedom on my mind! Benetti yelled.Eventually, they managed to track the squirrel down and got it out of the stadium so the game could continue.Baltimore hit three homers in the win, two of which came in the fifth, to secure the three-run win. That pushed them to 52-55 on the year, though they are still in fourth in the AL East standings. The Tigers have lost three straight, and are in fourth in the AL Central race at 50-57 on the year.Though they didnt get the win, Tigers fans in attendance on Monday night were all in on the extra member of the outfield. Naturally, signs started popping up everywhere.SQUIRREL!!!!! @tigerspic.twitter.com/CeDRM5Oboj skubalknows (@skubalknows) July 28, 2026Rally Squirrel has been suspended for 80 games after PEDs were found in its system after a routine drug test. Detroit Tigers mascot, Paws, is demanding an appeal. pic.twitter.com/kdBINnTH5Q Cyborg Cabrera (@Cyborg_Cabrera) July 28, 2026Free the squirrel!